Hollywood is desperate, with declining box office sales, and the Internet confounding them every step of the way. So what are they to do? TimePlay Entertainment Inc. believes that they should let movie-goers play interactive games at the theaters as a way to boost ticket sales.
Moviegoers will be able to play games on a 3.5-inch touch screen device the size of a PSP. Each seat will have a unique IP address and is all connected by a tethered arm to the seat. The device currently will support 70 players in a theater. So now when they show that ad sponsored trivia game on the screen you can play along and see results transmitted back on the big screen and the smaller screen at your seat. And of course you can buy food with the game screen.
Personally I don’t see this taking off, no matter how interactive the games are.
I don’t think they realize that DVD is what’s killing the box office IMO. I have surround sound at home, a decent screen and would much rather spend $15 or $20 on a movie I can watch as much as I want and also not have to spend on their outragiously priced food and drinks. Unless I really want to see something as soon as it comes out I won’t see it until it comes to DVD and I think that’s where a lot of others are coming from too.
Adam on 03 15th, 2006
It’d be like the LAN Game Olympics.
Adam Michela on 03 15th, 2006
I agree, DVD and the affordability to have your own home surround sound system has hurt box office sales. It doesn’t help that prices for a ticket is too high these days, when you can get more fun out of renting an Xbox 360 game and either playing against buddies locally or going online and wiling the hours away.
Matt on 03 15th, 2006